The group, which aims to lead a progressive policy debate on migration in the UK parliament, is chaired by Labour shadow minister Jack Dromey, and its vice chairman is Labour’s policy chief Jon Cruddas.

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“This could involve local schools and authorities engaging in joined-up thinking, alongside Government and civil society, to prepare for any potential demographic changes and the resultant social impacts.”

The group said that the British economy – which is at risk of slipping into an unprecedented triple dip recession – was likely to act as a distinctive to put off Romanians and Bulgarians from trying to come here the restrictions are lifted.

It said that the “economic climate in the UK” was “likely to have a bearing on A2 immigration”, pointing out that when the numbers of migrants from eight other accession eastern European countries had fallen from over 100,000 in 2007 to 62,000 in 2012.

The group said: “This may point to a further disincentive for potential immigrants from A2 countries in coming to the UK.”

Speaking on Monday, Ion Jinga, the Romanian ambassador to London, said: “We don’t have the crystal ball and nobody can provide 100 per cent accurate figures on the number of Romanians that could come to the UK after 1st January 2014.

“But any rational analysis using available statistics leads to the conclusion that the UK is not a preferred destination for Romanians seeking a job and that they are not benefit seekers.

“More than 70 per cent of Romanians in the UK are of an age average between 18 and 35 years old. They are a young community that does not ask for health care or for social benefits.

“If the British government will adopt measures for a better control of the social benefits, it will be in order to tackle a problem already existing in the UK and not because of the Romanians, who are not part of that problem.

“They could, eventually, be part of the solution, as the measures envisaged will apply to them on equal footing with all the other EU citizens.”